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Independent research, intelligent analysis, engaging content

Work and Pay Research carries out independent research and policy analysis on workplace issues. This can be quantitative or qualitative research, a benchmarking study or analysis of a particular area of employment policy or practice.

We can work with you to make the most of the findings and analysis, ensuring that written content is accessible and useful to the relevant audience. The end result will probably be a comprehensive written report but it might include blog posts, resource packs, briefings, a website resource hub or a benchmarking tool. We can draw up guidance for HR managers on a particular area of practice as a result of what we have found. Or we can work with your organisation to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.

Work and Pay can handle a project from idea through to publication. But we can also take on a particular job that needs doing (designing a survey, for example) or problem that needs solving (such as a document that needs rewriting).

Clients since May 2014 have included Incomes Data Services (work on private sector pay progression for the Office of Manpower Economics and the IDS call centre salary survey), Tooley Street Research (a project for the John Lewis Partnership on progression for low-paid workers), XpertHR (survey design, analysis and writing on maternity and paternity pay, international HR management and employee assistance programmes), The Smith Institute and Personnel Today.

Research and analysis

Commissioning some independent, rigorous and original research can help your organisation to understand an issue better, compare itself to others, solve a problem or bring about change. Work and Pay Research can use a variety of research techniques to gather and analyse information and provide robust analysis covering a range of employment topics.

Surveys

Work and Pay Research can carry out small- or large-scale surveys of employers, employees or workplace representatives, including survey design and data analysis. A survey is a hugely useful tool in policy work when trying to identify views or practice on a workplace issue.

Statistical analysis

We can carry out analysis of the main labour market datasets published by the Office for National Statistics, such as the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings or Labour Force Survey, and work with relevant economic data (eg GDP, inflation or productivity statistics).

Workplace data analysis

Work and Pay Research can carry out confidential data analysis of workplace HR metrics in order to calculate gender pay differences or track the progression of part-time versus full-time employees, for example. Analysis can cover the types of issues that usually lead to gender pay gaps, such as the ways in which job roles are valued, starting salaries set or variable pay awards distributed.

Interviews and case studies

We can carry out structured interviews and write up case studies leading to a deeper understanding of a particular issue. This approach can be particularly helpful in analysing the kinds of practices that are not easily understood using surveys because every employer does things differently, such as employee share schemes or employee recognition.

Policy analysis

Work and Pay Research can work with your organisation to help you put together evidence-based policy positions or recommendations or analyse the impact of a particular policy. We can ensure that you are fully briefed on key developments in a specific policy area, such as TUPE or working time.

Literature reviews

A review of the existing research on a particular subject is helpful in ensuring that effort is not duplicated and identifying knowledge gaps and key questions. Combined with fresh analysis it can form the basis for policy recommendations itself or be carried out alongside primary research.

Reports and features

Clear, readable writing is important, but often too little attention is paid to how content is structured to meet its objectives. We take care to structure written content around the need of the user, whether this is to perform a task, argue a convincing case or interpret complex data. Below are some of the types of content Work and Pay Research can produce.

Research and analysis reports

Work and Pay Research can produce well-structured reports that set out research methods, analysis and findings. But they do not have to be PDFs document of solid text. They can be enhanced with graphs and infographics, case study write-ups or learning points.

Policy documents

Policy writing might include responses to government consultations or briefings on recent legislation or policy developments.

Features

Work and Pay Research can provide readable features or news articles on employment policy or HR issues for print or online publication.

Practical guides and toolkits

We can compile practical guides on a particular workplace process, task or policy area, tailored to a specific user group such as line managers, workplace representatives or HR. This might take the form of a step-by-step guide, toolkit or resource pack.

Action plans

Sometimes organisations do a lot of work on a particular workplace practice or policy area but then get stuck in turning what they have learned into action points. We can help find a way forward by working up an action plan based on practical understanding of the issues. This might be for an individual employer on equality or pay issues, for example, or for a sector body or campaigning organisation on a specific area of workplace policy.

Subject areas

Work and Pay Research combines specialist knowledge of pay and benefits, gender equality in the workplace, employment relations, parental leave and pay and flexible working patterns with understanding and experience of working across the full spectrum of employment policy issues. Click on the links below for more information on the topics that we cover.

Parents and carers at work

Workplace data and benchmarking

Diversity data, HR and human capital metrics, pay benchmarking, tools

HR strategy

Role of line managers, change management, international HR policies, corporate responsibility and reporting, corporate governance and HR, people management in public service delivery, public procurement and HR

Work organisation

Working time and patterns, job structure and quality, job evaluation

About

Work and Pay Research provides expert research, analysis and writing on workplace issues. Get in touch for surveys, qualitative research, evidence-based policy analysis, practical guides and reports.